With the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays just around the corner, some of the nation's largest retailers are looking to start a new tradition.

Several large chains -- including Target, Macy's, Best Buy and Kohl's -- have announced plans to start Black Friday deals at midnight on Thanksgiving. Wal-Mart will open its doors at 10 p.m. Thanksgiving night.

Critics worry the move will cause people to cut family time short to get an early start on Christmas shopping.

"I personally think that Thanksgiving Day should be about family and celebrating, being thankful for what we already have and not what we can gain by more shopping," one person said.

Another concern is that the retailers taking part in the early Black Friday launch are also some of America's largest employers, meaning many of those employees will be required to work on Thanksgiving.

"I'm going to have to get some sleep and I'll probably go to bed at 2 p.m. and miss my family's Thanksgiving dinner completely," Target employee Anthony Hardwick said.

Hardwick started a campaign on Change.org asking Target to remain closed on Thanksgiving. So far, more than 7,000 people have signed his petition.

Hardwick hopes consumers across the country will back him, but retail analysts say they're not so sure that will be the case.

They say if this year's early deals are a hit, more stores will follow suit.

"If somebody is opening at midnight, well, look for somebody to now say 'We're going to open at 11 p.m.' predicted Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst for NPD Group.

"And look for someone else to say 'Well, we're just not going to close on Thanksgiving day at all," he added.

Sears and J.C. Penney say they will not open on Thanksgiving Day. They plan to stick to their normal Black Friday schedule to allow their workers to be with their families.